This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes has signed a new contract at the club, per their official website, despite being linked with Tottenham Hotspur throughout the summer.

What’s the word?

Spurs were heavily linked with a move for the Portugal international in the most recent transfer window as they attempted to bolster their squad.

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A bid was tabled for Fernandes, worth €45m (£38.4m) plus €20m (£17m) in add-ons if Spurs won the Premier League, per an official statement from Sporting president Frederico Varandas, via Metro.

He has now committed his future to the club, with The Mirror reporting that his release clause has increased from an original £65m to £85m.

No room for negotiation

Spurs are unlikely to be able to persuade Sporting to do business at £38.4m here.

The add-ons weren’t deemed realistic by the Portuguese club and perhaps rightly so; Spurs currently lie 20 points off leaders Liverpool.

One has to believe, then, that the chance to bring Fernandes in has gone.

They did sign Giovani Lo Celso from Real Betis on an initial loan deal, but Fernandes has the power to be a genuine goalscoring threat from midfield unlike any other member of the squad.

He has already scored nine goals and registered six assists this term.

Now, though, Sporting have all the leverage and, if they wish to sell him, can merely point to the clause; chairman Daniel Levy should let this one lie instead of breaking the club’s transfer record.

Meanwhile, Spurs fans have laid into one star for his performance in midweek.